Process for treating hides.



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JOHN H. YOCUM, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGINOR TO THE CLARENDON- YOCUIVI COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OENEW JERSEY.

PROCESS FOR TREATING HIDES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 141, 1916.

No Drawing. Original application filed. April 17, 1913, Serial No. 761,748. Divided and. this application filed June 18, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. YOCUM, a citizen of the United States, and resident of East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes for Treating Hides, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a process for treat-' ing fresh or green hides to preserve them for tanning purposes, and ithas for its object to prevent the discoloration which occurs during the tanning process with hides preserved by present methods. These discolorations, commonly called salt stains, prevent the use of the leather in light colors, such as the tans, and require that the leather be artifically colored to cover up the stains.

By my invention the fresh hides are treated with a compound composed of common salt and a small proportion of the normal sulfite of sodium, or the normal sulfite of a similar base, such as potassium, ammonium, etc. This composition consists preferably of about 97 per cent. of common salt (sodium chlorid) and about 3 per cent. of normal sulfite of sodium. The percentage of the sulfite may be increased as high as 6 per cent. and as low as 2 per cent., but I have found that the above preferred proportions give the best results for the average run of hides.

Usually the fresh hides are obtained in quantities at packing houses or slaughter houses, and in applying my process the hides or skins are laid one on top of the other with the hair side down. As each hide is laid in position, its surface is more or less covered with a composition powder. These bundles of treated hides are preserved in this condition until they are ready to be shipped to the tanner.

In making up the composition, the ingredients in the proper proportion are thoroughly mixed so that the sulfite is evenly distributed throughout the mixture.

While I have mentioned only common salt, or sodium chlorid, as the main in- Copies of this patent may be obtained for Serial No. 34,815.

gredient in the compound, and while I prefer to use sodium chlorid, other neutral salts of sodium, such as sodium sulfate, may besubstituted in place of thechlorid.

By the use of my process the discoloration of preserved hides during the subsequent tanning treatment, and the formation of salt stains, is entirely prevented. Hides or skins which have been preserved by my process are of a uniform color when properly tanned.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

I 1. In the process of preserving fresh hides for tanning purposes, the step which con sists in partially covering the hides with a composition containing sodium chlorid and a small percentage of a normal sulfite of an alkali metal.

2. In the process of preserving fresh hides for tanning purposes, the step which consists in partially covering the hides with a composition containing sodium chlorid and a small percentage of normal sulfite of sodium.

3. In the process of preserving fresh hide for tanning purposes, the step which" consists in partially covering the hides with a composition containing approximately 97 per cent. of sodium chlorid and approximately 3 per cent. of a normal sulfite of an alkali metal.

4. In the process of preserving fresh hides for tanning purposes, the step which consists in partially covering the hides with a composition containing approximately 97 per cent. of sodium chlorid and approximately 3 per cent. of normal sulfite of sodium.

5. In the process of preserving fresh hides for tanning purposes, the step which consists in partially covering the hides with a composition containing common salt intimately associated with approximately 3per cent. of normal sulfite of sodium.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 16th day of June, A. D. 1915.

JOHN H. YOC-UM.

Washington, D. G. 

